Welcome

It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the online presentation of our report “Transforming the Health of Our Community.”

As you will see, we take a look at some noteworthy achievements and give you an overview of how we have been advancing our mission to transform SwedishAmerican to prepare for the future.

“Transformation” is more than just a theme for SwedishAmerican’s report; it is the driving force behind this organization. Over the past 100 years, we have provided outstanding healthcare to our region with passionate dedication to quality and service. We have grown and expanded our campus and, in so doing, have dramatically improved our neighborhood under the guidance of our Foundation.

In recent years, we have opened the Heart Hospital, SwedishAmerican Medical Center/Belvidere and the Ryan Jury Child Development Learning Center. We also have formed an affiliation with the University of Wisconsin/Madison, a world-class academic medical center, and opened the new Regional Cancer Center in partnership with them. Most recently, we established BetterLife Wellness, a new SwedishAmerican medical wellness center located within the I.D. Pennock Family YMCA in downtown Rockford. From investing in strategic partnerships, our people, and technology, to expanding our medical group and focusing on regional growth, we have become the region's largest and most preferred health system.

From my perspective—and the collective perspectives of SwedishAmerican’s Board, management team, physicians and staff—our transformation is working. These truly great accomplishments would have been impossible without great people.

Despite the relentless challenges to our industry, SwedishAmerican has moved ahead with transformations that reflect the dynamic world of healthcare and also meet the growing needs of our community. Some of the changes are immediately visible. For example, we’ve built our free-standing cancer center in partnership with UW Health that is a regional destination for cancer care. We’ve also opened new surgical suites at SwedishAmerican Medical Center/Belvidere and expanded our medical group to give patients more choice and convenience.

However, we also have invested in recruiting new physicians, in primary care and all specialty areas, so that individuals facing medical issues can turn to their own community healthcare system and not travel elsewhere at what can be one of the most difficult times of their lives. For the people in our region who will suffer a significant healthcare issue, having access to a physician staff composed of highly trained and experienced medical practitioners is one of the most valuable benefits of living in our community. SwedishAmerican Medical Group’s nine primary care clinics have received the prestigious Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. This emerging model of care strengthens the relationship between the patient, family and the physician in order to create value by improving quality and controlling costs for all stakeholders.

Our work in transforming the patient experience through superior customer service continues to unfold through a formal approach that ensures all employees treat our patients and their families with courtesy and respect, and with an understanding that care be delivered in a way which reflects how we want our own family to be treated.

Our future is bright, the boundaries are limitless, and through determination, clinical excellence and partnerships, we’ve positioned ourselves to provide the very best care to our patients now and in the future.

I am privileged and honored to work with a team of 3,200 fellow employees who sustain and nurture our heritage and culture, and live out our mission every day.

Thank you for your support of SwedishAmerican and enjoy our report on transforming the health of our community.

Affiliation With UW Health

UW Health includes the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, the American Family Children's Hospital, the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, the University of Wisconsin Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation, which is the largest physician group practice in Wisconsin.

Donna Katen-Bahensky president and CEO of UW Hospital and Clinics, said the affiliation with a health system the size and scope of SwedishAmerican will provide mutual benefits that will enhance patient care, medical education and research.

"As we have come to know the SwedishAmerican system, we have been impressed with the commitment of its leadership to patient- and family-centered care and evidence-based medicine," said Katen-Bahensky. "We share a dedication to continuous improvement in patient care and I'm excited to work with SwedishAmerican on projects we can implement together."